Around the Blogosphere This Week

Miscellaneous bits of news and fun stuff from around the Internet... I'm posting this Easter Weekend edition a bit earlier than usual!

...One of the most interesting recent releases from the Warner Archive is SO GOES MY LOVE (1946), a romantic comedy starring Myrna Loy and Don Ameche. I'm completely unfamiliar with it. It's also interesting to note that the film is from Universal -- will the Archive be releasing more Universal films in the future?

...I'm sending best wishes to KC of Classic Movies, who is beginning a maternity leave with a series of "Guest Linkers" providing the material for her "Classic Links" feature. (I'll be participating late next week!) It's been a lot of fun to see what various people have come up with; for instance, Guest Linker Page led me to the amazing Hooked on Houses website, which is now blogrolled to the left under "Miscellany." A Hooked on Houses post on one of my favorite movie houses, from MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS (1944), also led me to a post at Sweet Sunday Mornings examining the film's costumes.

...Sweet Sunday Mornings also did a terrific examination of the costumes in ROYAL WEDDING (1951), starring Fred Astaire, Jane Powell, and Peter Lawford. It airs on TCM next Friday, April 29th, in conjunction with the real royal wedding taking place that day.

...Back at Classic Movies, Guest Linker Tom found a review of Ray Milland and Paulette Goddard in THE CRYSTAL BALL (1943) at Une Cinephile. I'm really looking forward to this one!

...Moira Finnie has posted a very amusing review of PARRISH (1961), starring Troy Donahue, Claudette Colbert, and Karl Malden, at Skeins of Thought.

...At Another Old Movie Blog, Jacqueline takes a close look at LIFE WITH FATHER (1947), a film I've seen countless times. (I also liked the book, which I bought in an omnibus edition with LIFE WITH MOTHER around the time I first saw the film as a child.)

...A cat interacting with dolphins? This video is fun to look at.

...Mark of Where Danger Lives reviews THE KILLER IS LOOSE (1956) at Noir of the Week. Mark feels that THE KILLER IS LOOSE was Wendell Corey's best role. He's definitely creepy as a milquetoast psychopathic murderer!

...Amazon plans to launch a lending library for the Kindle later this year. (Via Missy.) I'll be curious how that would work.

...Glenn Erickson's reviews this week include CHANCE AT HEAVEN (1933), a Warner Archive release starring Joel McCrea and Ginger Rogers. With those actors, that's a title I'll definitely want to catch up with!

...At her latest column for Landmark Report, Kristina reviews five reasons she loves GUNGA DIN (1939). I could add that I love that it was filmed in Lone Pine, California; check out the mementoes on display in the Lone Pine Film History Museum in my post from last summer.

...The government, via the National Labor Relations Board, is attempting to dictate to Boeing the state in which it's allowed to build the 787 Dreamliner. I'm still trying to wrap my head around the idea that this could happen in what is supposed to be a free country.

...Speaking of freedom, longtime readers know I have strong feelings about the government mandate that we use toxic, mercury-filled CFL light bulbs. Consumers may wish to be aware that there are also concerns about the bulbs causing cancer and exploding and causing house fires. Why can't we let the free market work? If the CFL's really save energy and money, consumers will flock to use them. Why force us to buy bulbs some scientists say "should not be left on for extended periods" because of cancer risks?

...Java's Journey makes some very interesting points about THE HEIRESS (1949). It's been a while since I've seen it, and I'll be thinking of her comments about Catherine's late mother's presence next time I watch it.

...Java's been busy of late, she also has an interesting post up at The Amazing Deanna Durbin on LADY ON A TRAIN (1945), a film I enjoyed for a second time last Christmas.

...TV host Jeff Probst has bought the Gene Autry Estate for $5 million.

...The changeover from film to digital projection may drive some smaller movie theaters out of business.

...I enjoyed a look at the number of Westerns airing on TV in 1959 at Caftan Woman. In 1959, viewers had their pick of over two dozen primetime TV Westerns each and every week!

...Here are reviews from Leonard Maltin and Kenneth Turan of the L.A. Times of Reese Witherspoon's brand-new film, WATER FOR ELEPHANTS (2011). They agree that the film was well-made yet could have been even better. Here is a trailer.

...Jim Lane's Cinedrome has a photo-filled review of the new book HARLOW IN HOLLYWOOD, which was written by Darrell Rooney and Mark Vieira.

...Here's a fun exercise: at Forever Classics, Meredith lists "100 Things I Love About the Movies." She was inspired by the blog Defiant Success.

...Notable Passings: Sol Saks, the creator of the BEWITCHED TV series, has passed away at the age of 100...Screenwriter Kevin Jarre, whose credits include GLORY (1989) and TOMBSTONE (1993), passed on at 56...and actor Michael Sarrazin, familiar from many TV productions, along with films of the '60s and '70s, has died at the age of 70.

...Thanks to reader Greg for passing on a link to John Murray's Wall Street Journal essay "The Gospel According to Hollywood," which has a very interesting anecdote about the impact of DeMille's THE KING OF KINGS (1927) on a Nazi prison camp. (I had the pleasure of saying hello to Greg at one of the Noir City screenings a few days ago.)

...Finally, Marcia Morrissey shares the story of her Easter 1995 kidney transplant in "The Easter Sunrise of My New Life."

Have a great weekend, and best wishes for a very happy Easter Sunday!